Sign In Register

Cliffside, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Cleveland County County

2.0 /5.0
C Fair
630 Population 270/sq mi density
59°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
122 Violent Crime/100K 7,067 property/100K
C
Overall
2.0 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
122 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.9 / 5.0
24.0% bachelor's degree or higher
Cliffside enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 50.4 inches. The area receives 4.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

40°F Jan (4°C) 78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average59.2°F
10% above US avg
January Average40°F (4°C)
July Average78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation843 ft (257 m)
Area2.3 sq mi (6.0 km²)
Population Density270/sq mi
Coordinates35.2480°N, 81.7653°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyCleveland County County
Nearest AirportGreenville Spartanburg International (GSP)
35 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 50.4"
33% above US avg
Snowfall 4.0"
Wettest Month (Mar) 5.12"
Driest Month (Apr) 3.54"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score70.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability44.1 / 100
Community Resilience33.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

39 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.9. Most recent: M2.5 on Aug 23, 2025.

Apr 13, 1998 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina M3.9 137 km
Jun 16, 2006 9 km W of Maggie Valley, North Carolina M3.4 134 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 107 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 95 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina M3.0 111 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 39 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 76 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 139 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 102 km
Feb 18, 2005 7 km ENE of Irmo, South Carolina M2.9 139 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km NNW of Coronaca, South Carolina M2.9 111 km
Mar 6, 2006 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina M2.8 90 km
Feb 12, 2021 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee M2.8 112 km
May 23, 2023 4 km N of West Canton, North Carolina M2.8 106 km
Aug 14, 2025 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina M2.7 41 km
Mar 21, 2004 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M2.7 38 km
Aug 30, 2010 7 km ENE of Mountain City, Tennessee M2.7 138 km
Jun 10, 2018 2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina M2.7 128 km
Mar 14, 2015 3 km SE of Cherokee, North Carolina M2.7 140 km
Aug 17, 2021 6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina M2.7 62 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

2 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Fran (1996, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
1996 Fran Category 1 279 km
1989 Hugo Category 4 86 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

361 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 16 fatalities, 393 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 77 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF4 24 km 2
May 5, 1989 EF4 30 km 4
May 5, 1989 EF4 99 km 1
Aug 16, 1994 EF3 72 km 0
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 64 km 0
May 27, 1973 EF3 81 km 0
May 10, 1952 EF3 67 km 2
May 5, 2020 EF2 99 km 0
Apr 25, 2020 EF2 69 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 88 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 33 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 37 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 15 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 65 km 0
Oct 8, 2017 EF2 84 km 0
Mar 3, 2012 EF2 98 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 52 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 12 km 0
Nov 16, 2011 EF2 71 km 3
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BRUSHY RIDGE (12,405 ac, 2000).

Year Name Acres Distance
2000 BRUSHY RIDGE 12,405 70 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 50 km
2016 PINNACLE MOUNTAIN 7,869 90 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 66 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 42 km
2010 BURNING UNIT 5,567 69 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 53 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 65 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 66 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 61 km
2010 C-94-95 133 RX 3,192 87 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 72 km
2010 UNNAMED 2,909 90 km
2015 UNNAMED 2,690 84 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,514 77 km
2009 UNNAMED 2,458 86 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,395 70 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,362 73 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,274 86 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,237 77 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 40°F (4°C) 4.2 in Coldest
February 43°F (6°C) 4.2 in
March 51°F (10°C) 5.1 in Wettest
April 58°F (15°C) 3.5 in Driest
May 66°F (19°C) 4.5 in
June 74°F (23°C) 4.5 in
July 78°F (26°C) 4.5 in Warmest
August 76°F (25°C) 4.4 in
September 70°F (21°C) 4.0 in
October 59°F (15°C) 4.0 in
November 50°F (10°C) 3.7 in
December 42°F (6°C) 4.0 in

Cliffside has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 40°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 50.6 inches, with March being the wettest month (5.1") and April the driest (3.5").

View full weather details →